Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes
Records: MLS season opener for both teams
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. at PayPal Park
Streaming: Apple TV
Radio: 810-AM, 1370-AM
Quakes storylines: The Quakes have a new look from top to bottom coming off one of the most forgettable seasons in MLS history. San Jose matched the league record with 25 losses and allowed a league-record 78 goals. … Bruce Arena, the winningest coach in MLS history who also led the U.S. national team into two World Cups, was brought in and has overseen a massive roster turnover as the Quakes look for their first winning season since 2013 and their first MLS playoff win since 2012. Arena previously oversaw quick turnarounds with the LA Galaxy and New England Revolution. .. Playing at home should help: San Jose is just two seasons removed from going 8-2-7 at home and last season four of its six victories were at PayPal Park. Five of the Quakes’ first seven games are in San Jose. … Midfielder Christian Espinoza, the Quakes’ captain, is one of the few holdovers. Among the significant new faces are former Real Salt Lake captain Chicho Arango, acquired in a trade last month, and 2018 MLS MVP Josef Martinez. In addition to the forwards are five former Revolution players: goalie Earl Edwards Jr., defenders Dave Romney and Nick Lima, and midfielders Ian Harkes and Mark-Anthony Kaye, and goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr.
RSL storylines: With Arango helping lead the way, Real Salt Lake was third in the Western Conference last season, going 16-7-11, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Minnesota. Arango was one of several high-profile departures from last season, lowering expectations by most observers for the club heading into the season. … RSL’s key additions in the offseason were former Nashville SC forward Forster Ajago, former New York Red Bulls striker Elias Manoel and former Dallas defender Sam Junqua. Another newcomer is veteran Brazilian goalie Rafael Cabral.
— BAY AREA NEWS GROUP